Before you may enter the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) an entry permit must be reserved. One permit is required per traveling group and allows up to 9 people and 4 canoes per permit. Both parks operate on a quota system with permits issued on a first-come, first-serve basis. A reservation is made by entry date and entry point. (You must enter the wilderness on the date and at the entry point you reserved - this information is printed on your permit.) Each entry point has a specified number of permits available each day - the daily quota. Some entry points have as many as 27 permits available per day and some as few as 1. (see below for a list of entry points and their daily quota) It is important to note that permit reservations are well underway by mid-January so early trip planning is essential, especially if you have a large group and require multiple permits.
Boundary Waters Outfitters will reserve all the permits for your group. We cooperate with the US Forest Service & Quetico Park and issue BWCA permits from our lodge. When you are ready to make a reservation give us a call at 1-800-777-7348 and we'll get you going.
